Commanding Officer - HMNZS NGAPONA

Lieutenant Commander J Burt, VRD, RNZNR

Lieutenant Commander James Burt joined the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR) in 1997 as an Ordinary Seaman.He was commissioned as a Warfare Officer in 2000, and obtained his Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate in 2003.Lieutenant Commander Burt subsequently obtained his Minor War Vessel Navigating Officer qualification – the only member of the RNZNVR to have done so.

Lieutenant Commander Burt has served in HMNZ Ships Hinau, Wakakura, Kiwi and Hawea.From July 2014 to October 2016, he was the Executive Officer of HMNZS Ngapona.

Lieutenant Commander Burt is a graduate of the Canadian Force College Joint Command and Staff Programme.He has been awarded the Volunteer Reserve Decoration and the New Zealand Defence Service Medal.

In 2017, Lieutenant Commander Burt was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve (RNZNR) due to a restructure of the Naval Reserve forces.He was appointed Commanding Officer of HMNZS Ngapona on 30 June 2017.